The three demon beasts surrounding the Heaven Patrol Office party moved at once, charging toward them.
The White-Browed Giant Tiger pounced from the front, its jaws wide open and gray-white astral energy surging between its teeth. It went straight for Xiao Zhengyan at the head of the party.
Faced with the giant tiger lunging at him, Xiao Zhengyan had no choice but to draw his sword and meet it, his expression grim. He braced his heavy sword horizontally. The tiger's paw struck the blade, and the resulting blast knocked over six or seven Evil Punishment Office patrol guards behind him.
Another beast, a True Astral Realm One-Horned Savage Bull, lowered its head and charged. Its hooves thudded heavily, and a layer of pitch-black light coated the tip of its horn.
Kongwu gave a low shout and shifted his three-hundred-plus-pound bulk two steps sideways. Pressing his palms together, he thrust them forward, raising a golden screen of light before the horn. Kongyue circled around its flank and swung his precept blade at the bull's legs.
Before Yi Yang stood the iron-gray Armored Giant Lizard.
The giant lizard was even bigger than he had expected, measuring a full thirty feet from snout to tail.
Its four thick, short legs gripped the ground. Its overlapping armor plates leaked dark-gray astral energy through their gaps. The creature was wrapped in astral armor from head to toe, much like wearing hard armor of treasure artifact quality.
Its tail swept sideways. Yi Yang stepped back, letting it scrape past his hem. Beside him, three pine trees thick enough to encircle with both arms snapped cleanly in half.
Fast.
Yi Yang slipped through the flying splinters. Mysterious Abyss left its sheath, its blade wrapped in blue-green true astral force as it slashed into the giant lizard's back.